No fewer than 10 persons were killed on Tuesday night as three female suicide bombers detonated Improvised Explosive Devices, IED, at different locations around Tuka Tuka village, on the outskirts of Maiduguri, while 16 others were critically injured.
The simultaneous explosions, which rocked the city on Tuesday at about 8.25 pm, with an intervals of about 3 minutes between each explosion, seriously caused pandemonium as people residing close to the area fled into the town for their dear lives.
Sources said three female suicide bombers detonated Improvised Explosive Devices wrapped on their bodies at different locations, while the fourth explosion suspected to have been planted by suspected members of Boko Haram, occurred at about 9:15pm, with no casualties.
However, the Acting Director, Public Relations, Nigerian Army Headquarters, Abuja, Colonel Sani Usman Kakasheka, who confirmed the attacks, said seven people, including the suicide bombers, were killed, while 11 were wounded.
A resident of TukaTuka area of Maiduguri metropolis and civilian JTF member, Ba’ana Momodu, lamented that the increasing menace of suicide bombers around Ajilari ward since the beginning of the last Eid El Kabir to date, had caused serious concern, as hundreds of innocent people were killed in the last one month.
Momodu, while narrating the fresh suicide attacks, said the third explosion, suspected to have been masterminded by a 25-year-old lady, went off at a local tea vendor, killing herself and four, others while many were also wounded.
“We also heard that one or two of those wounded could not make it at the hospital, following severe bleeding as their relations confirmed to us that they could not be treated or attended to on time because most of the medical workers were off duty,’’ he said.